This fella is my first venture into the world of faux fur and creating a fluffy bit of monster fun. His face, feet and horns are paperclay painted with acrylics. And if you count the cage he's in, he's probably the tallest piece too at over 2 feet tall.

He's already been adopted and has found a new home on the west coast. There are reports they may name him "Smug", which I think fits him fine.

I've been a little busy the last few weeks. FanExpo 2013 has come and gone. I was so pleased to see many familiar faces coming to the table to say hello and add to their collection of ghoulish goodies. I thank you, and my car thanks you since it was in the shop at the start of the convention and I was allowed to get it back because I could pay the mechanic. Just another example of the good your money does when you buy from artists instead of big box stores. I'd mentioned on Facebook that many people don't even break even in Artist Alley, and how your patronage can mean the difference for them to pay their rent or buy their groceries, or make more of the art you love to see. Thank you.

I wanted to share with you the art of Sean Chappell. That's his piece Things That Should Not Be Inside Eggs: The Evolution of Manmade Plantlife.

He's one of the people you'll find in artist alley, and if every cent of mine wasn't earmarked for car repairs, I would have picked up something from his table. His work is detailed, textured and surreal (does that creature have a pumpkin centipede for a head?).

There were many dark art and horror gems hidden in Artist Alley this year. Shame the organizers didn't spend the time to put all of us in the same row. In theory we are sorted by genre. In practice, not so much.

And when those run out, that's it for the show (and maybe for the year).

The plants are the number one item I hear people lament missing out on because they didn't pick one up early over the weekend. By the time they come back, I'm sold out (and that's when I make closer to 30 plants). These same people head straight for my table the following year so they get first pick and don't miss out.

So please, if you are looking to get an eyeball plant this year, be sure to get one early. If you wait until Saturday afternoon, they might be all gone.

My summer (and spring) has been dominated by the task of getting ready for FanExpo and this Thursday, Aug 22, the fun finally begins.

You will find me in Artist Alley at table A62. You need to head to the far left corner of the South Building to find me. I've posted a small image of the area, but you can check out the entire floor plan on the FanExpo website.

I've been trying to snap photos of figures, add final touches to Bad JuJu dolls, and get that final "to do" list done.

I'll be posting some pictures of figures here very soon, though I can't promise full stories for each.

With my trusty camera in tow, and a friend at my side, I enjoyed a short road trip to a small art gallery showcasing Canadian talent. And that included a few pieces from yours truly.

There is something very strange about walking into a building and finding your art there. And something comforting about it. It was like having a group of friends waiting for me.

I do love that Pilch - second figure from the left in the banner - is a big toothy ham in a group of some more serious looking faces.

I never know what to do in these sorts of situations. It's one thing to stand behind a table of your work and talk to people. It's another to mill about a crowded space where people might make conversation with you about the work on the wall.

It feels a lot like being at a party where you don't really know anyone. Since I am an introvert, that can be mildly uncomfortable. I was blessed to have so many things to preoccupy my attention or else I might have gotten twitchy...or in trouble.

At one point a couple were leaned in close to my figures, examining them, discussing them at length. It took all my willpower not to step beside them, my shoulder to theirs, and just start nodding thoughtfully.

I was a good ghoul.

In fact, I even made myself leave the room. When I came back, two of my pieces had sold (apparently to an owner of a Tattoo shop which will be their new home).

The gallery is hosting a "Home Grown Doll Show" of artists from Ontario, and yours truly is part of it.

Opening reception is this evening from 7 pm to 10 pm and I'm so excited to be part of it, I'm actually going to be making the drive out from Toronto this evening to make a brief appearance.

I've had a sneak peek at the other artist's work, and am thrilled to be in such good company.

If you do make it tonight, I'll be the exhausted, disheveled woman. Nudge me awake and say hi.

Otherwise, you have more than a month to enjoy the show at your leisure.

The gallery is located at 1 Cliftonvale Ave.

If you don't see me, say hi to my figures. It's the first time they've been away from home besides going to new owners, and I'm concerned they might get upset one dark night...and possibly eat the other figures on display. I won't get charged for that, right?

All my other witches and hags have taught me that appearances can be deceiving, and labels are misleading. A witch isn't what you think she is, or expect her to be.

This is not the case with Georgina.

Georgina is the textbook witch. Open her cupboards and you will find eye of newt.

Cackle? Check.

Animal familiar (in this case, a bird)? Check.

Green, wrinkled skin? Check.

Pointy hat? Check.

The only thing missing is her broom, recently taken from her by the members of her coven for flying while inebriated. She'd misjudged her landing and collided with the community cauldron just as her sister witches were putting the last touches on a spell they'd been simmering for 3 days.

And I should mention that throwing water on her will not make her melt. It will only make her very, very angry.

Sure, he isn't planting flowers and raising bunnies, but he isn't burning down churches or enslaving souls either.

On the contrary, such acts are a lot of work, and Tomas isn't a fan of exerting effort. He'd rather stick out his tongue than hex you. He figures both actions get his displeasure across, and why waste energy on that when you can spend it on...well...he's not sure what to spend it on since he doesn't like to do anything, really. But that's not the point, is it?

Cozener: a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value.

In this case, the valuable item is the offspring of other creatures. He fools them using various means, depending on the situation and how he's feeling that day.

He promises to protect the young from an imaginary foe while parents go to fight or find shelter, and uses the opportunity to slink away with their precious ones.

He seeks out desperate souls and offers them whatever they need if they can best him in a seemingly easy challenge that appears to favor their victory.

Sometimes he simply waits for the guardians to be distracted, then scoops up his treasure and escapes.

What does he do with them?

Well, the unborn are the easiest to raise as his own, or just as easily make for a morning meal. Perhaps an alchemist is in need of a rare ingredient. Money, manual labour, or nourishment, it makes little difference to the Cozener.

Kromwell is a silent witness, sent ahead of his Master to decide the fate of sinners and non-believers (definitions of these two terms are based on guidelines from a very different 'holy book' than one we are familiar with).

He is silent judgment.

He is unbiased and unswayable, listening to our conversations. Our thoughts. Scanning for key words and intentions.

He is blind to everything but the clear purpose given to him by his Master: find the unworthy. Catalog their guilt. Report back.

In this court of one, there are no defending arguments or plea bargains.

You don't even know you're on the stand.

But when the Master arrives, there is no mistaking that the wrath of judgment is upon you.